How about something completely different and go for an Alan Moore graphic novel. If you've not read a graphic novel before or are skeptical/snobish about this as a genre Alan Moore will change your mind. Ignore the rubbish movies they've made of his work and go for Watchmen, V for Vendetta or From Hell. Don't read Lost Girls if you're at all prudish. I picked it up because it was by him and got a shock (Not that I mind, wink wink nudge nudge and all that!!!)

I'm reliving my early youth and going through a collection of "the 100 best ever SF novels". It's mostly from the 50s and 60s - the golden age of SF - and I'm thoroughly enjoying it, although there are lots of chuckles at the way "futuristic" technology is described. And I daren't tell anyone here how women are treated in those stories

When I've finished that lot, I also have "the 100 best ever fantasy novels" to get into.

Paulo Cohelio's 'The Zahir'. Amazing, AMAZING book. I just love his slick style and the beautiful way he crafts his sentances. A lot of it I found quite profound...on one level it is about an author whose war correspondent wife goes missing, but it is actually about the state of longing and the real nature of love.

Gosh *removes head from bottom* . Anyway, if this portentious summary hasn't put you off, you are welcome to the book, I can post it to you if you PM me your address.

"A pretty face is fine, but what a farmer needs is a woman who can carry a pig under each arm"

Thanks,I'm in the library this afternoon with the kids,I'll see if they've got it,save the postage.And portentious is good.!.

I've read most of the Dornford Yates,yonks ago,inherited them from my dad,he was a big fan.

I really like Mikes idea of 100 best in various genres,and working your way through them, but it would take some time,even the way I read.(average 1-2 novels aweek,and concurrently one 'Tome' a month- currently Michael Carsons 'Serving Suggestions' home of the thought provoking Short Story 'The Punishment of Luxury').

thanks everyone,this thread has really inspired me to look into some stuff I wouldn't have spared a second glance.

Milims wrote:The Book Thief: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_Thief I always keep a book in the bathroom and this is perfect. It's a good story but structured in such a way that it's easy to pick up and put down

I couldn't put it down! Have you finished it? I made the OH read it and it got a bit much for him near the end

I've just finished The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson. I loved it (not sure what that says about me )

I've read a couple of the Montalbano books OJ and found them most amusing - much better than the TV adaptation which seem pretty faithful to the storyline without the humour.

I'm currently reading Love over Scotland - Alexander McCall Smith. I think I've read most of his novels, liking some better than others. But I'm starting to think he writes faster than I read though as I seem to have a few to catch up on

Maggie

Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy